Volusia sheriff's budget getting slight increase

PATRICIO G. BALONASTAFF WRITER

Sunday

Jul 28, 2013 at 6:32 PMJul 29, 2013 at 4:54 AM

A recent demand by the state of Florida on local governments to pay more toward the pensions of employees will create a modest increase in the Volusia County Sheriff's budget for the coming fiscal year, officials said.

A recent demand by the state of Florida on local governments to pay more toward the pensions of employees will create a modest increase in the Volusia County Sheriff's budget for the coming fiscal year, officials said. County Manager Jim Dinneen's proposed 2013-2014 budget includes about a 1.4 percent increase in the Sheriff's Office budget, said sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson. That is a little over $1.03 million — from $71,332,792 to $72,365,054. "It's pretty much a bare bones status quo budget for us with very little new," Davidson said. "There are some very modest increases, primarily the result of increasing gas prices and the increases in our mandatory employer contributions into the Florida Retirement System." The increase in employer pension payments is having a significant impact, costing about $3 million for the entire county budget. "Since the Sheriff's Office is a large area of county government, this is having a major budgetary impact on us as well," Davidson said. The state increased pension payments for high risk or law enforcement officers from 14.1 per cent to 19.06 per cent, and for regular class or civilian employees from 4.91 per cent to 6.95 percent. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office employs 463 sworn deputies and 460 civilians. "This is another mandate from the state that we have to fulfill, like it or not," said Volusia County Chair Jason Davis. Davis said he has not completely reviewed the budget that is several hundred pages long but said he has come to respect Sheriff Ben Johnson as an expert lawman who is fiscally responsible. Johnson does major work with the little he gets, Davis said. "We got the best deal we can find, according to Johnson," Davis said. "He is the expert in law enforcement and knows what he needs to get the job done." Part of the budget increase, $409,527, will be used to replace the agency's radios due to their age and the need to switch them because present radios are no longer being serviced, Davidson said. This year's budget also includes $200,000 as capital improvement. This money, taken from seized funds, will be used to pay for the relocation of one of the Sheriff's District offices, Davidson said. The agency is exploring options to relocate its District 3 Office from its present location at 999 3rd St. in Holly Hill. "We want to relocate to someplace that is more centrally located within the unincorporated portions of northeast Volusia County serviced by the Sheriff's Office," Davidson said. "In addition, we anticipate that the relocation will result in some cost savings in our lease." Next fiscal year, less money is being allotted to the communications center, which is a positive thing, according to Davidson. Volusia County opened the new Emergency Operations Center/Sheriff's Communications Center in February, with the need to purchase new equipment. "Next year, our capital outlay needs will be significantly reduced now that the new facility is operational, and that is the reason for the spending reduction in communications," Davidson said.

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